Semi truck load of ice cream goes up in flames in Layton

Crash • Driver crashed while trying to pull over because he felt he was choking on something.

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This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

A semi-truck full of ice cream crashed in Layton and erupted into flames. The sugary delivery is no more.

The driver was transporting the ice cream from Washington state to Aurora, Colo. when he felt like he was choking on something while going north on Highway 89, said Layton police Lt. Shawn Horton.

Shortly before 2 p.m., he tried to move into the center median as he approached Sunset Drive (2500 North) so he could come to a stop, but was unable to without rear-ending a car, so he veered all the way through the southbound lanes, the shoulder and into the guardrail.

He didn't hit any vehicles, but the cab struck the rail near the truck's fuel tank, and shortly after the tank caught fire  and so did the rest of the semi-truck, Horton said.

Firefighters extinguished the flames, but the cab, trailer and all its ice cream were a loss. The 59-year-old driver was not hurt.

Because of the rupture to the fuel tank, a hazardous material crew and the Utah Department of Transportation arrived at the scene to contain and clean up the oil before it reached storm drains.

The investigation and clean-up has shut down all but one lane of southbound Highway 89, and police advised commuters take another route if possible.

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